Distributor for cone crushers and method

ABSTRACT

A rotary feed distributor of such construction as to allow material to accumulate in the bottom portion thereof, but of such depth as to enable free and uncongested movement of the material to a gyratory crusher spaced therebelow. The distributor is a vertically arranged cylindrical chamber with an axial upper inlet and a lower, radially outwardly spaced outlet at least as large as the inlet. Accumulated material acts to protect the bottom surface of the distributor from wear. Additionally, wear plates are included on each side of the outlet.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Rudolph J. Gasparac West Milwaukee; Arnold P. Szaj, Hales Corners, both of, Wis. [21] AppL No. 815,783 [22] Filed Apr. 14, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee Nordberg Manufacturing Company Milwaukee, Wis.

[54] DISTRIBUTOR FOR CONE CRUSHERS AND METHOD 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 241/30, 193/3, 241/202, 241/301 [51] Int. Cl B02c 2/04 [50] Field of Search 241/30, 202, 301; 193/3 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,621,860 12/1952 Gruender 241/202 2,971,705 2/1961 Werner 241/202 3,212,720 10/1965 Gasparac 241/30 3,358,939 12/1967 Gasparac... 241/202 3,446,444 5/1969 Kern 241/202 2,509,919 5/1950 Gruender 241/202 X 3,384,215 5/1968 Gasparac... 193/3 3,506,203 4/1970 Rossi 241/202 OTHER REFERENCES Nordberg Gyradisc Bulletin No. 22 B, 3 pages unnumbered Nordberg Mfg. Co 1954, Copy in group 320, class 241, sub. 202

Primary Examiner- Donald G. Kelly Attorney-Parker, Carter & Markey DISTRIBUTOR FOR CONE CRUSHERS AND METHOD SUMMARY or THE INVENTION 7 This invention is in the field of cone crushers and is concerned with a method and apparatus for controlling, feeding, distributing and regulating the flow of material to the crushing cavity of a cone crusher.

A primary object is an independently operable feeder and distributor for con'e crushers and the like.

Another object is a method of distributing material to the crushing cavity of a cone crusher which insures maximum crushing efficiency.

Another object is a feed distributor for cone crushers of the above type whichhas much greater life.

Another object is a feed distributor and method for controlling the feed to cone crushers which greatly reduces maintenance and service'costs.

Another objectis a feed distributor which prevents segregation.

Another object is a feed distributor which is specifically constructed for rapid repair.

Another object'is a feed distributor of the above type which is practically wear-resistant.

Another object is a feed distributor of the above type which may be completely fabricated and does not require any castings.

Another object is a rotary feed distributor which does not require delicate balancing.

Another object is a method of controlling and regulating the feed to a cone crusher which simultaneously eliminates segregation and wear.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specification and drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE. DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical section of the upper portion of a crusher;

FIG. 2 is a top view, on an enlarged scale, of the feed distributor of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section along line 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 the upper part of a cone crusher has been shown which normally includes a main frame, not shown, supported on a tilting ring 10. The tilting ring may be held in position by a plurality of springs, not shown, commonly referred to as a spring release, disposed about the crusher. A bowl 12 is screwthreaded into the tilting ring in a conventional manner and removably supports a liner 14 which defines a part of a crushing cavity 16 in cooperation with a mantle 18 supported on a suitable head 20which, in turn, is constructed to be gyrated about a focal point 22. The head swivels in a spherical socket, not shown, so as to be gyrated without being rotated. The mantle may be held in place through suitable lock rings and sleeves which areheld down by a head nut 24 above which is positioned an extension cap 26. The head nut and extension cap rise above the crushing cavity. They are more or less on a level with the feed cone or conic wall 28, which has or is-associated with a more or less cylindricalupper wall 30. The conic wall 28 is truncated or tapered inwardly in such fashion as to direct material to the crushing cavity 16. Where the crushing is carried' o'n between the members 14 and 18, crushing takes place inthe cavity 16. Where the upper part of the head, in some formsof cone crushers, is relied upon to perform a crushing function, an upper crushing cavity 32 may be provided. There is room for a wide variety of changes in the form of the liner and mantle to form the crushing cavity 16 and zone 32. Both cone liner 14 and mantle 18 are of ap propriate material to perform their crushing function. While a 'particular style of crusher has' been shown and described, it

should beunderstood that this is'merely representative of a vention.

A feed distributor, indicated generally at 34, delivers material to be crushed from above by a distributor element, to be described in detail hereinafter. The feed distributor is considered to be generally coaxially mounted with the upright main axis of the crusher. The basic object of the feed distributor is to prevent the segregation of material in the crushing cavity, meaning that all or substantially all of the fine material will go to one side or all or substantially all of the coarse material will go to the other, which will result in pounding, uneven wear, and inefficient overall operation of the crusher.

Suitable support posts 36, mounted on the crusher frame support a cross or top platform 38, which in turn supports the feed distributor. The distributor is suspended or extends downwardly from the top plate or platform 38 and is employed to discharge or distribute material in a generally lateral direction or plane at a point within, above and aligned with the feed cone 28 and its upper wall 30. The material to be crushed is initially fed into a rotary unit 40 which may be the same in detail as any one of those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,720, issued Oct. 19, 1965; U.S. Pat. No. 3,358,935, issued Dec. 19, 1967; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,215, issued May 21, 1968, all assigned to the present assignee. A belt drive 42 or the like may be employed connected to a drive motor 44 which may be electric, hydraulic or otherwise, to rotate the distributor. The motor drive is totally separate from whatever source of power is used to gyrate the crushing head so that the distributor may be set at a rate of distribution which is totally independent of the crushing rate, or it may be coordinated to it. The details of the motor, drive, and rotary element 40 will not be shown or explained in detail as they may be the same as in the above referred to patents. It will be understood that a suitable tube 46 or passage extends down through the middle of the rotary element 40 so that material will be supplied from any suitable feed mechanism down to and along the general central axis of the crusher into the distributor itself.

Particles of mixed size, to be reduced, are fed into the upper end of the distributor 34. The particles so fed are delivered by gravity downwardly through tube 46 into the distributor or mixing chamber. The distributor itself may be in the form of an attachment suitably bolted or otherwise connected to he rotary element and may have a flange 48 or the like at its upper end with suitable bolt holes 50 so that it may be detachably connected to the rotary element in any suitable manner.

The distributor itself may be a prefabrication. It may have a circular wall 70 open in front at 72 and a flat bottom 74 with general parallel sidewalls 76. The opening or outlet 72 is free and unencumbered except as otherwise described. The sides 76 and rear curvilinear wall 70 may be all one piece or may be separate and welded at their abutting edges as at 78. They may all be connected to an upper annular plate 80 with suitable reinforcements 82 at desired intervals. All connections may be made by welding. The bottom plate may be generally flat and more or less horizontal and may contain a grate orgrill 84 composed of a plurality of laterally disposed bars 86, shown in this case as three, generally equally spaced across and suitably welded to the upper surface of the bottom plate. Whilethey have been shown generally parallel and equally spaced, they might be inclined or divergent somewhat depending upon the results desired. The bars have a tendency to collect material and to build up a dead bed or pad of material which will, de-

pending upon the angle of repose and speed of rotation, form a bed generally along line 88. The bars 86 tend to build up material behind them and, therefore, create the dead bed. The area, in FIG. 3, to the right of the centerline, generally designated 90, will be on the reverse side of the distributive effect of centrifugal force and the material collected in the pocket will be held against the closed wall 70. The height of the distributor, from the bottom surface 74 to the inlet 46 is dimensioned such that'the free flow of material through the distributor, along its arcuate path, after the dead bed of material has been formed, will not be impeded. For example, the outlet72 will have a certain cross section which should be, in no event, less than the cross section of the inlet 46. The

buildup of material in the bed 88 will cause a restrictive effect and create an artificial throat at some angle, 92. The precise point of this control cross section will depend upon the particular material being distributed and will vary from one material to another.

Reinforcements 94 may be positioned under the top plate 80 to join the top of the cylindrical wall to the top plate. Each of the side plates 76 may be provided with a removable wear plate 96 which may be bolted, welded, or otherwise suitably connected to shield or guard the front open end or outlet of the mixing chamber.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

According to certain crushing methods, it is desirable that the feed to the crushing cavity be made up of a certain proportion and distribution of coarser particles and finer particles to prevent segregation and uneven crushing. It is quite important that segregation does not take place and that a thorough intermixing of coarse and fine particles should be delivered and distributed to the crushing cavity on a uniform cyclical basis. The thorough intermixing of particles of different sizes should be maintained and distributed to the crushing cavity on a uniform basis.

The material coming to a crusher is normally delivered by a conventional conveyor belt and the particles have a tendency to segregate as they fall into the open top of the crusher, the coarse particles going to one side and the fine particles to the other. This will result in an uneven crushing action around the annular crushing cavity with the majority of work being done on one side. On the sides where the fines collect, the crusher will have a tendency to pound, which can cause spring bolt breakage and uneven wear on various frame parts. Further, this can result in uneven wear of the replaceable wearing elements, the mantle and liner, so that while one side of the mantle and liner may have very little or a minimum amount of wear, the other side may be considerably worn.

The distributor takes the form of an independently driven unit which is freely located more or less directly above the crushing head and aligned generally with it in a vertical direction. The distributor is located above and out of contact with the head. The distributor has its own independent drive and may be independently set at a suitable rate dependent upon operating conditions, the material being crushed, maintenance conditions, etc. The material is fed down through a chute or tube. The material enters the distributor and turns about 90 and is discharged at a side opening in a centrifugal or tangential motion. Any tendency on the part of the material entering the distributor to segregate is counteracted and prevented, first, by the chamber itself and, second, by the change in direction. The outlet from the distributor also has a cross-sectional area which is at least as great and preferably greater than the inlet so that the distributor, in and of itself, does not create a restriction or bottleneck.

The chamber in the distributor has a grate or grid or bar formation which will trap or retain a certain amount of material. One of the problems in the past has been that the material falling through the distributor will rapidly wear any exposed metal surfaces, particularly where the material is highly abrasive. While prior distributors have worked very well and have improved the overall crushing efficiency of the machine, in certain instances their life has been very short and frequent repairs and replacements have been required due to the material wearing out the exposed metal parts of the distributor.

The present arrangement has the advantage that a bed of material will be built up more or less in the bottom of the distributor so that thereafter the material coming through the inlet, turning and being discharged through the outlet, will flow basically across a bed or pad of material rather than the metal plates of the distributor. The formation has been shown as a series of lateral bars which are disposed more orless at 90 to the direction of flow of the material. Depending upon the angle of repose of the particular material and the particular grid or bar formation chosen, a bed will build up in the distributor and will stay there. The bed might tend to cause a restriction at an angle of, say, 45, between the inlet and outlet. But the distribution and proportioning of parts is such that this throat, wherever it occurs, does not present a cross-sectional area less than the. inlet. It is important that the height of the distributor outlet be such that a restriction will not occur. While the total flow area of the outlet may be adequate, a restriction will occur if the vertical height of the outlet is not adequate.

The distributor takes the form generally of a cylinder which is deep enough so that on the nondischarge side a deep pocket or a reservoir is provided to accumulate an arcuate bed or material that thereafter is held in place by centrifugal force and fully protects the interior of the distributor against abrasion. The unit can be made of simple plates welded together with replacement wear plates lining each side of the outlet. It requires no castings and a minimum of machining, if any, and is very inexpensive while providing long service with a minimum of maintenance. The dead pocket held in place by centrifugal force insures the proper turn of material between the inlet and outlet, and at the same time does not restrict or form a bottleneck to the free flow of material through the distributor. The highly desirable if not essential function of preventing the separation of coarse and fine particles is not inhibited by the centrifugal pocket. The wear resistant characteristics of the unit in no way impede or prevent it from eliminating segregation.

Whereas the inlet to the distributor is generally axially disposed and aligned with the axis of the crusher, the outlet is at an angle and is radially spaced outwardly from the center of the crusher and distributor. So all of the material must change direction in the course of which the coarse and fine particles are thoroughly and completely interspersed as they leave the distributor. There is absolutely no opportunity for the particles to segregate themselves between coarse and fine in the crushing zone. Thus all portions of the crushing cavity will receive a fully intermixed supply of material which will result in uniform crushing action throughout and an even wear throughout the entire circumference of the crushing cavity.

It will be understood that the unit rotates and, depending upon the direction of rotation, the material, in leaving the outlet of the distributor, will have a tendency to be thrown against one sidewall of the distributor. It may be desirable for the dead bed of material to also rise along either one or both sidewalls in which case the bars that make up the grate or grill extend partially or totally along the inside of the walls or wear plates.

While the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that suitable additional modifications, changes, substitutions and alterations may be made without departing from the inventions fundamental theme.

We claim:

1. In a crusher having a gyrated head with power means for gyrating it, a frame, a bowl mounted on the frame and defining, with the gyrated head, a crushing cavity, a feed distributor above the head, said feed distributor including a generally cylindrical chamber with an upper intake opening generally concentric with the axis of the head and an outlet spaced substantially downwardly from the intake and radially outwardly from the axis of the head, said chamber having an unencumbered depth such that the accumulation of material therein opposite the outlet will leave an angular passage with a cross section at least as great as the intake opening, and separate power means for rotating the feed distributor about the axis of the head without gyratory motion.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the feed distributor includes a generally cylindrical element open on one side.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the feed distributor includes an internal formation constructed to retain a certain bed of material to prevent abrasion of the distributor without restricting the flow of material between the intake opening and the outlet.

4. For use in a crusher having a frame with an overhanging bowl in the frame and a gyrating head mounted in the frame defining a crushing cavity with the bowl, a feed distributor adapted to be mounted above the crushing cavity having a generally cylindrical chamber with an upper intake opening generally aligned axially with the head but spaced upwardly from the head, said feed distributor including an open interior with a depth such that material will accumulate therein and will provide an open angular passage with a cross section at least equal to the intake opening, means for rotating the distributor without gyratory motion about the axis of but independent of the movement of the head, and an outlet spaced substantially radially outwardly and downwardly from the intake opening.

5. A method of operating a crusher which includes gyrating a crushing head within a crushing zone, traversing a downwardly and outwardly extending feed zone about the axis of the crusher head without gyratory motion while feeding material to the upper end of the feed zone generally along the axis of the head retaining a quiescent bed of material in the feed zone to prevent abrasion thereof without restricting the flow of material therethrough, effecting the majority of the material retention in the quiescent bed of material by centrifugal force, and discharging the material from the lower, outer end of the feed zone, while carrying the lower outer end of the feed zone above and about the crushing cavity at a generally uniform rate.

6. A method of feeding material to a gyratory crusher which has a gyrating crushing head and an overhanging bowl defining an annular crushing cavity with an upright axis, including the steps of feeding the material to be crushed to a position generally axially aligned with and above the crushing cavity, allowing the material to fall by gravity through an inlet into a distribution zone positioned above the crushing cavity and free of the crushing head, prohibiting the flow of material out of the distribution zone with a circumferential wall defined about an axis lying generally on the axis of the crushing cavity,

allowing material to escape at at least one discharge point in the side of the distribution zone at a locationradially outwardly from the axis of the crushing cavity and downwardly from the inlet, rotating the distribution zone about the upright axis at a constant speed independent of the rate of gyration of the crushing head, retaining material in the bottom of the distribution zone over which the material moving between the inlet and outlet passes, effecting the majority of the retention of material in the distribution zone by centrifugal force on the material against the cylindrical wall defining the distribution zone, spacing the bottom of the distribution zone a sufficient axial distance down from the inlet such that the retained material will not cause congestion of the material moving through the distribution zone, allowing the material to move freely over the thus retained quiescent material in an arcuate turning motion without restriction between the inlet and outlet, and allowing the material to move freely through the discharge point and to thereafter fall by gravity into the top of the annular crushing cavity as the discharge point is carried above and about the crushing zone at a generally uniform rate of speed.

7. The method of claim 6 further characterized by and including the step of blocking the bottom of the outlet to a limited vertical extent so that the material will back up on the bottom of the discharge zone.

8. The method of claim 6 further characterized by and including the step of blocking the trailing side of the discharge point, as defined by the direction of rotation, to a limited extent so that material will back up to form a protective pad against at least a portion of the sidewall of the zone.

9. The structure of claim 4 further characterized by and including wear plates on the inside wall of the cylindrical chamber on each side of the outlet to prevent wear on the trailing side of the outlet, as defined by the direction of rotation. 

1. In a crusher having a gyrated head with power means for gyrating it, a frame, a bowl mounted on the frame and defining, with the gyrated head, a crushing cavity, a feed distributor above the head, said feed distributor including a generally cylindrical chamber with an upper intake opening generally concentric with the axis of the head and an outlet spaced substantially downwardly from the intake and radially outwardly from the axis of the head, said chamber having an unencumbered depth such that the accumulation of material therein opposite the outlet will leave an angular passage with a cross section at least as great as the intake opening, and separate power means for rotating the feed distributor about the axis of the head without gyratory motion.
 2. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the feed distributor includes a generally cylindrical element open on one side.
 3. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the feed distributor includes an internal formation constructed to retain a certain bed of material to prevent abrasion of the distributor without restricting the flow of material between the intake opening and the outlet.
 4. For use in a crusher having a frame with an overhanging bowl in the frame and a gyrating head mounted in the frame defining a crushing cavity with the bowl, a feed distributor adapted to be mounted above the crushing cavity having a generally cylindrical chamber with an upper intake opening generally aligned axially with the head but spaced upwardly from the head, said feed distributor including an open interior with a depth such that material will accumulate therein and will provide an open angular passage with a cross section at least equal to the intake opening, means for rotating the distributor without gyratory motion about the axis of but independent of the movement of the head, and an outlet spaced substantially radially outwardly and downwardly from the intake opening.
 5. A method of operating a crusher which includes gyrating a crushing head within a crushing zone, traversing a downwardly and outwardly extending feed zone about the axis of the crusher head without gyratory motion while feeding material to the upper end of the feed zone generally along the axis of the head, retaining a quiescent bed of material in the feed zone to prevent abrasion thereof without restricting the flow of material therethrough, effecting the majority of the material retention in the quiescent bed of material by centrifugal force, and discharging the material from the lower, outer end of the feed zone, while carrying the lower outer end of the feed zone above and about the crushing cavity at a generally uniform rate.
 6. A method of feeding material to a gyratory crusher which has a gyrating crushing head and an overhanging bowl defining an annular crushing cavity with an upright axis, including the steps of feeding the material to be crushed to a position generally axially aligned with and above the crushing cavity, allowing the material to fall by gravity through an inlet into a distribution zone positioned above the crushing cavity and free of the crushing head, prohibiting the flow of material out of the distribution zone with a circumferential wall defined about an axis lying generally on the axis of the crushing cavity, allowing material to escape at at least one discharge point in the side of the distribution zone at a location radially outwardly from the axis of the crushing cavity and downwardly from the inlet, rotating the distribution zone about the upright axis at a constant speed independent of the rate of gyration of the crushing head, retaining material in the bottom of the distribution zone over which the material moving between the inlet and outlet passes, effecting the majority of the retention of material in the distribution zone by centrifugal force on the material against the cylindrical wall defining the distribution zone, spacing the bottom of the distribution zone a sufficient axial distance down from the inlet such that the retained material will not cause congestion of the material moving through the distribution zone, allowing the material to move freely over the thus retained quiescent material in an arcuate turning motion without restriction between the inlet and outlet, and allowing the material to move freely through the discharge point and to thereafter fall by gravity into the top of the annular crushing cavity as the discharge point is carried above and about the crushing zone at a generally uniform rate of speed.
 7. The method of claim 6 further characterized by and including the step of blocking the bottom of the outlet to a limited vertical extent so that the material will back up on the bottom of the discharge zone.
 8. The method of claim 6 further characterized by and including the step of blocking the trailing side of the discharge point, as defined by the direction of rotation, to a limited extent so that material will back up to form a protective pad against at least a portion of the sidewall of the zone.
 9. The structure of claim 4 further characterized by and including wear plates on the inside wall of the cylindrical chamber on each side of the outlet to prevent wear on the trailing side of the outlet, as defined by the direction of rotation. 